Athlon Sports released its 2023 Bowl Projections for the Big Ten Conference yesterday. The outlet, like many that have gone through this exercise, sees a successful season ahead for the Wisconsin Badgers.
The projection: a Citrus Bowl appearance against SEC power Tennessee.
While the 2022 campaign was rife with turnover and turmoil within the Wisconsin program, it did qualify for a bowl game for the 21st consecutive season. Today’s college football landscape puts emphasis on College Football Playoff appearances and national title contention. But still making a bowl game in the program’s worst season in recent memory is nothing to sneeze at.
The potential matchup with Tennesse would be fascinating for several reasons. The Volunteers are coming off an 11-2 season and Orange Bowl appearance. Josh Heupel’s offense seems to be taking the sport by storm, though after losing QB Hendon Hooker to the NFL the program now turns to former Michigan QB Joe Milton.
Yes, that Joe Milton. The one that threw arguably the worst pass I’ve ever seen at the college level.
Wisconsin played Joe Milton once upon a time…#neverforget pic.twitter.com/M3tYOwLDPn
— Ben Kenney (@benzkenney) December 31, 2022
A New Year’s Six appearance would be a success in Luke Fickell’s first year as head coach. That signals a 10+ win season, a Big Ten West title, an appearance in Indianapolis and a possible Big Ten Championship. Take away a Playoff birth, there isn’t much more to accomplish in an inaugural season.
Wisconsin kicks its season off at home against Buffalo on September 2.